Collapsible shelter

ABSTRACT

A pack is disclosed having a pack support structure, and a stand structure connected to the pack support structure. A disclosed collapsible shelter is stored on the pack and includes a floor material that provides a ground cover under the collapsible shelter, and is stored on the pack for carrying. The collapsible shelter, when in the deployed position, is attached to the pack support structure so that the pack is part of the collapsible shelter and is supported by the pack support structure. A shroud is also disclosed attached to the pack support structure to act as a heat shield. Support equipment and supplies are stored in the pack, and are accessible from inside of the collapsible shelter. Disclosed configurations allows for rapid deployment, and increased protection from heat in an emergency situation such as when a firefighter requires emergency protection from a wildfire.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates to wilderness portable structures, collapsibleshelters, and to portable fire protection systems.

2. Background Art

Portable shelters can be carried in a backpack or frame pack and allowuse of wilderness areas that are remote and inaccessible by car or othervehicles. Portable shelters such as backpacking tents are normallycarried in or on a frame pack, with the weight of the tent being a majorconsideration in many cases. A portable shelter that reduces the weightof the shelter would be of great benefit to those utilizing portableshelters in remote wilderness areas.

Camping tents and similar collapsible shelters currently known are notdesigned to reflect substantial amounts of heat, and are not useful as afire protection shelter in the event of a wild fire. Emergency fireprotection shelters are used that are designed as a one time use, andare insufficient in some cases to protect the user from a wild fire. Itis common for firefighters to carry an emergency fire protection shelterwithin a pack that contains other essential items that are needed whenfighting wilderness wildfires. These emergency fire protection sheltersare made as lightweight heat shields, in the shape of a shelter, but insome cases do not provide adequate heat protection resulting in loss oflife. A fire shelter that increases the heat shielding and ability toprotect an occupant inside the shelter would be of great benefit tofirefighters or any persons utilizing emergency fire shelters in thewilderness.

At least some emergency fire shelters are not re-usable, as they aredesigned to deploy but not designed to be collapsed or stored again fora second use. In a situation where a fire fighter needs a temporaryshelter that is not an emergency fire shelter, an additional shelter,separate from the fire shelter, is needed.

Camping shelters and emergency fire shelters do not use the pack supportstructure as part of the structure of the shelter. In both cases thepack that carries the shelter is separate from the shelter itself. Thisrequires extra weight and materials, as the materials for a pack are notused when a shelter is assembled.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed is a device including a pack and a collapsible shelter. Thecollapsible shelter may have a stored position and may be stored on thepack when in the stored position. The collapsible shelter may have adeployed position, and an exterior and an interior when in the deployedposition.

The collapsible shelter may be connected to the pack so that when thecollapsible shelter is in the deployed position, the pack is between theinterior and the exterior of the collapsible shelter. In an exampleembodiment, the pack supports at least a portion of the collapsibleshelter. The position of the pack may reduce heat transfer from theexterior of the collapsible shelter to the interior of the collapsibleshelter.

In another embodiment of the device, the pack includes storage forcompressed breathable air, including an air valve connected to thestorage for compressed breathable air to allow the breathable air to beaccessed from the interior of the collapsible shelter. The pack may alsoinclude a support structure, where the support structure is hollow andis used as the storage for compressed breathable air.

Another embodiment is disclosed with a pack having a support structure,a stand structure connected to the pack support structure, and acollapsible shelter with an interior and an exterior. The collapsibleshelter may have a stored position to be stored on the pack when in thestored position. The collapsible shelter may also have a deployedposition,

In an example embodiment the collapsible shelter, when in the deployedposition, is attached to the pack support structure so that the pack ispart of the collapsible shelter. The pack support structure, when in thedeployed position may be part of the collapsible shelter, with thecollapsible shelter supported by the stand structure.

The collapsible shelter may have an inner layer of flexible material,and a flexible frame attached to the inner layer of flexible material.The inner layer of flexible material may include fire resistantmaterial, and may be an inner heat shield to deflect heat from a fireaway from the interior of the collapsible shelter.

In an example embodiment, the pack support structure is hollow, andcontains compressed breathable air. The device may also include an airvalve connected to the pack support structure to allow the breathableair in the support structure to be accessed from the interior of thecollapsible shelter.

In another embodiment, the pack includes a water container incorporatedinto the pack, and a conduit between the water container in the pack andthe interior of the collapsible shelter to allow water in the watercontainer to be accessed from the interior of the collapsible shelter.

An embodiment may also have a floor material, having edges and an outerportion near the edges of the floor material, where the floor materialprovides a ground cover under the shelter, and where the floor materialis stored on the pack for carrying. In an example embodiment, the deviceincludes a shroud material and the pack is made from fire resistantmaterial including material that reflects heat. The shroud material mayform a protective cover when the collapsible shelter is stored, theshroud material may form an outer heat shield when in the deployedposition by attaching to outer portions of the floor. The shroudmaterial may be stored on the pack for carrying.

The shroud may form a protective cover when the collapsible shelter isstored. The shroud may provide an outer layer of flexible materialincluding fire resistant material. The outer layer of flexible materialmay be at least part of an outer heat shield to deflect heat from a fireaway from the interior of the collapsible shelter.

In an example embodiment, there is a space between portions of the innerlayer of flexible material and the outer layer of flexible material. Theinner layer of flexible material may include multiple layers and theflexible frame may include bendable hoops attached between the multiplelayers of the inner layer of flexible material.

The pack support structure may be resistant to high temperature and maybe a heat shield to deflect heat from a fire away from the interior ofthe collapsible shelter.

In an example embodiment, the stand structure, may hold the pack supportstructure at an angle relative to the ground, for example the standstructure may hold the pack support structure approximately 45 to 90degrees relative to the ground. The pack support structure may bebetween the interior and exterior of the collapsible shelter whendeployed as part of the collapsible shelter.

The device may include a cooling system on the pack. In an exampleembodiment, the cooling system is an evaporative cooler and may includea multi-phase air filter. The pack may include a water containerincorporated into the pack and the water container may be connected tothe evaporative cooler.

The evaporative cooler may include an air intake on the exterior of thecollapsible shelter when the shelter is deployed, and an air output onthe interior of the collapsible shelter. In an example embodiment themulti-phase air filter includes a carbon filter, a desiccant filter, anda chilling pad/filter connected to the water container, and wherein theevaporative cooler includes a fan. The fan may be powered, at least inpart, by a hand operated crank.

The pack has a top and a bottom, and may include an external cameraapproximately at the top of the pack. The collapsible shelter may havean outer layer of flexible material that is connected to the floormaterial. The floor material may have an outer edge, and the outer layerof flexible material may be connected to the floor material in closeproximity to the outer edge. The inner layer of the collapsible sheltermay be connected to the floor material further from the outer edge thanthe outer layer of flexible material.

An example method of assembling a collapsible shelter is also disclosed,including the steps of: providing a pack with a pack support structurecontaining a collapsible shelter, and deploying the collapsible shelterby moving the stand structure to provide a stable support structure forthe collapsible shelter utilizing the pack support system, and moving alayer of flexible material to form the collapsible shelter.

The pack may also include a shroud, that when deployed has an exteriorand an interior of the collapsible shelter; deploying the collapsibleshelter by connecting the collapsible shelter to the pack, so that thepack and the shroud functions as a heat shield to reduce heat transferfrom the exterior of the collapsible shelter to the interior of the fireshelter. The pack may also include a stand structure with a firstportion of the stand structure connected to the pack, and a secondportion of the support structure. Deploying the collapsible shelter mayalso include moving the second portion of the support structure so thatthe support structure supports the pack in a stable position.

Providing a pack in the example method may also include providing a packwith extendable heat shields, and with a temperature sensor on theexterior of the collapsible shelter. The pack may also include a displayon the interior of the collapsible shelter that is communicativelyconnected to the temperature sensor. The pack may include storage forcompressed breathable air in the pack, and a conduit for breathable airbetween the storage for compressed breathable air and the interior ofthe collapsible shelter. In an example embodiment the pack also includesa water container in the pack, and a conduit for water between the watercontainer and the interior of the collapsible shelter. The collapsibleshelter may also include an air mattress connected to the interior ofthe collapsible shelter, and a first conduit for air to access the airmattress from the interior of the collapsible shelter.

The pack may also include a wireless electronic communication system,with a location broadcaster system. An example embodiment also includesan electric powered light source on the interior of the collapsibleshelter, and a power supply connected to the wireless electroniccommunication system, the location broadcaster system, and the electricpowered light source. In another example embodiment, the pack includes acooling system for cooling air with a conduit for cooled air accessiblein the interior of the collapsible shelter.

The step of deploying the collapsible shelter may also includes thesteps of: extending the heat shields to increase the area of the heatshield; enabling the temperature sensor so that a person on the interiorof the collapsible shelter receives feedback from the display regardingtemperature on the exterior of the collapsible shelter; filling the airmattress with air; accessing the air in the air mattress through thefirst conduit for air; accessing the breathable air in the storage forcompressed breathable air though the conduit for breathable air;accessing the water in the water container through the conduit forwater; enabling the wireless communication system; enabling the locationbroadcaster system; enabling the electric powered light source; enablingthe cooling system; and accessing the cooled air through the conduit forcooled air.

Deploying the collapsible shelter may also include the step of coveringat least a portion of the collapsible shelter with a flexible shroudheat shield.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a pack frame.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of a pack.

FIG. 3 is side view of an embodiment of a shelter.

FIG. 4 is side view of another embodiment of a shelter.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of a cooling system.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of a pack with a cooling system.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment of a pack.

FIG. 8 is a top view of an embodiment of a pack with extended heatshields.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method of assembling a collapsible shelter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There are many advantages of the present invention over the prior art,some of which are discussed below in the example embodiments.

FIGS. 1 and 2 shows an example embodiment of a device 100 with a supportstructure 116 used with a pack 110. A stand structure 120 is shown inFIG. 1 in a stored position where it would remain while the pack is usedto carry a shelter and other items. FIG. 2 shows the stand structure 120in a supporting position. The stand structure 120 connects to thesupport structure 116 with hinges 119. The stand structure has a firstportion of the stand structure 122 and a second portion of the standstructure 124.

In the example embodiment, the support structure 116 and the standstructure 124 are used as a support structure for a collapsible shelter.To deploy the shelter, a first step may be to place the pack on theground, and extend the second portion of the stand structure 124, sothat the pack 110 is in a stable position on the ground. For example,the stand structure 120 may support the pack 110 at an angle relative tothe ground between approximately 45 degrees and 90 degrees. In anexample embodiment, the pack is supported at an angle of approximately45 degrees relative to the ground. Other angles may be used in otherembodiments.

In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 2 a floor material 190 is shownin a stored position on the pack 110. The floor material 190 may bestrong material capable of withstanding hard contact with trees, rocksand other material without tearing. The floor material 190 while in thestored position may protect other materials and items that are storedwithin the pack 110.

In an example embodiment the support structure 116 and the standstructure 120 are hollow and are designed to hold compressed breathableair. In this way the support structure is used as storage for compressedbreathable air 112. This embodiment may be useful to fire fighters, orothers who have the need for portable breathable air. An air valve 114may be placed in the support structure 116 or the stand structure 120 toallow access to the compressed breathable air. In this embodiment, thehinges 119 include a conduit to allow the compressed breathable air toflow from the stand structure 120 to the support structure 116. In otherembodiments multiple valves may be used to access compressed air fromthe support structure 116 and the stand structure 120 separately. FIG. 1also shows electric light sources 162, such as bulbs or LEDs, and adisplay 170, both of which will be discussed below.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a collapsible shelter 180 in a deployed position 184.In the example embodiment, the floor material 190 is placed under thepack and second portion of the stand structure 124. In one example thefloor material 190 may be made from fire resistant material and may helpcreate a defensible area around the shelter if a wildfire is approachingthe shelter. In other embodiments the floor material 190 may be usedprimarily to protect other materials and provide greater comfort tooccupants using the shelter.

In the example embodiment of FIG. 3, the pack has shoulder straps 117. Aconduit for air 123, connected to an air valve 114 is shown connected tothe shoulder straps. The conduit for air 123 may be connected to abreathing mask, helmet, or mouth piece, or may deliver air into theshelter. A conduit for drinking water 128 is shown connected to a watercontainer 126 on the pack. A water valve 129 is shown in the exampleembodiment to allow a person to easily access water stored in the packfrom the inside of the shelter. The conduits for air and water may beattached to the shoulder straps in a manner that would allow access tothe breathing air and water while wearing the pack, with the shelter ina stored position 182.

In an example embodiment the pack includes items to aid the occupantinside the shelter, which are built into the pack. For example, FIG. 3shows an external camera 156 that is positioned near the top of the pack152. The external camera 156 is connected to a power supply 164 and to adisplay 170 shown in FIG. 1. The external camera may allow the occupantto observe hazardous conditions without leaving the shelter. A wirelesselectronic communication system 158 may also be included on the pack toallow a person using the pack or occupying the shelter to communicatewith others wirelessly over a distance. The external camera 156 may beconnected to the wireless electronic communication system 158 to allow aperson at a distance to monitor the conditions where the shelter is setup, or to monitor the conditions around a person using the pack. Thepower supply 164 may power the wireless electronic communication system158, and the electric light sources 162. The electric light sources 162may be LEDs incandescent lights, compact florescent or other lightsources powered by electricity.

The example embodiment shown in FIG. 3 also includes a heat sensor 166,which is located in this embodiment near the bottom of the pack 154, butmay be located in other areas on the pack. The heat sensor may beconnected to a display 170 that is visible inside the shelter. Thedisplay 170 may be a simple LED display, or other indicator from low tohigh. In an example embodiment an occupant inside of the shelter has theability to move or rotate the shelter, and can rotate or move theshelter using feedback from the temperature sensor to optimize the heatprotection and heat reflection of the shelter, as will be described ingreater details for example embodiments discussed below.

FIG. 3 also shows a location broadcaster system 160 that may be used tobroadcast location information of the shelter. In an example embodimentwhere the shelter is designed and used as an emergency shelter, thelocation broadcaster system 160 may be automatically enabled when theshelter is deployed. In other embodiments the location broadcastersystem 160 is deployed continuously, or upon manual activation of auser. The location broadcaster system 160 may be integrated with thewireless electronic communication system 158, or it may be a separatesystem.

The collapsible shelter 180 of the example embodiment has an exterior186 and an interior 188. In this embodiment the collapsible shelter 180is supported by the support structure 116 and stand structure 120, aswell as bendable hoops 200. In an example embodiment the stand structure120 is in the interior 188 of the collapsible shelter 180. Thecollapsible shelter 180 may be made with a single layer of material, andit may also be made with an inner layer of material 196 and an outerlayer of flexible material 194. As shown in FIG. 3, the single layer ofmaterial may be sufficient in some applications, for example if thecollapsible shelter 180 is used for camping or wilderness survival. Inother embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, an additionallayer of material may be advantageous. The inner layer of flexiblematerial 196 and the outer layer of flexible material 194 may be madefrom material that reflects heat, and each layer may act as a separatebarrier and protection from the heat of a wild fire. In the exampleembodiment, to increase the effectiveness of two layers of heatprotection, the inner layer of flexible material 196 is separated in atleast some areas from the outer layer of flexible material 194, leavinga space 212 between the inner layer and outer layers of flexiblematerial. In the example embodiment shown, a support wire 211 is used tokeep the outer layer of flexible material 194 separated from the innerlayer of flexible material 196, at the top of the collapsible supportstructure 180. The outer layer of flexible material 194 may be attachedto the floor material 190, for example using clips or hook and loopfasteners.

The floor material 190 has an edge 192, and the outer layer of flexiblematerial 194 may be attached to the floor material 190 near the edge192. The inner layer of flexible material 196 may be attached to thefloor material 190 further from the edge than the outer material,thereby allowing a space 212 between the inner layer of flexiblematerial 196 and the outer layer of flexible material 194. In otherembodiments the outer layer of flexible material 194 may be designed torepel water such as rain, or to hold heat within the collapsible shelter180, such as when a shelter is used in cold climates.

The outer layer of flexible material 194 may be a shroud that isdesigned to reflect heat and withstand high temperatures, such astemperatures that may be present in a wild fire. In this way thecollapsible shelter 180 may assist in the comfort and safety offirefighters in an emergency situation if they must seek shelter from awildfire. To aid in the comfort and safety of the occupants of a thecollapsible shelter 180 an air mattress 216 may be included in thecollapsible shelter 180 with an external valve 219 to fill the airmattress from with external air, and an interior valve 218, to allow theair in the air mattress 216 to accessed from the interior 188 of thecollapsible shelter 180. By allowing access to the air in the airmattress, the occupant may be supplied with additional breathable air ifthe air quality in the interior 188 of the collapsible shelter 180 islower than the air quality of the air in the air mattress 216.

Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 shows anevaporative cooler with a water container 126 connected to a chillingpad 140 through a conduit 127. In this example embodiment a fan 142draws air through a multi-phase air filter 134. In this example, air isdrawn in through an air intake 148 and follows the arrows shown into acarbon filter 136, and then into a desiccant filter 138, and then intothe chilling pad 140. The air in this example is then drawn through thefan, through an air output 150 and into the interior 188 of thecollapsible shelter 180. In the example embodiment of FIG. 6 the airoutput 150 is through a conduit and into a face mask 151.

An air filtration system 130 may be used on a pack while a person iswearing the pack, and the person can receive the filtered air through aface mask 151. The air filtration system 130 may add water vapor to theair before the air is sent through the air output 150, which can improvehydration for the person breathing the filtered air. The water vapor maybe added to the air during a process of evaporative cooling, or may beadded to the air through other means, such as a mist system orvaporization system that adds moisture and water vapor to the air.

In the example embodiment of FIG. 5 the fan 142 may be powered by amotor 146 or by a hand crank 144. Powering the fan with a hand crank 144may provide the advantage of allowing power to be preserved, or for thesystem to be operated after power is exhausted, or if power fails. Anexample cooling system 130 is shown in FIG. 5 integrated with a pack. Inthe example embodiment of FIG. 6, the motor 146 is powered by a powersupply 164. The pack in FIG. 6 is shown with the stand structure 120supporting the pack so that the output air may be used to provide coolair directed into a mouth piece, or a facemask. In other embodiments thecooling system 130 is used to cool air directed into the interior of acollapsible shelter, such as the shelters shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Coolair from the cooling system may also be directed into a mouth piece, ora facemask, or a helmet, while the pack is worn by a person.

The water container 126 may supply water to the chilling pad 140, aswell as supply drinking water through the conduit for drinking water128. In other embodiments separate water containers are used forsupplying drinking water and water for the evaporative cooler. Separatecontainers may allow water which is not potable water to be used for thecooling system.

The cooling system 130 shown in the drawing is an evaporative coolingsystem but other cooling systems may be used to cool air for theinterior of the collapsible shelter, and for breathing through a mask ormouth piece.

Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, with a cut-away top viewof an example pack and pack support 116. The pack in this embodimentincludes heat shields 168 which are shown in a stored position in FIG.7, and also shown in an extended position in FIG. 8. The pack 110 mayalso have a pack heat shield 167 as part of the pack 110, and may alsoinclude heat shielding in the support structure 116.

In the example embodiment, the heat shields may be used to provide extraprotection to the head and upper body of a person in the collapsibleshelter, with heat shields on either side, and in front, providing heatshield protection on multiple sides, covering approximately 270 degreesaround the head of the occupant in the shelter, in addition to theprotection provided by the inner layer of flexible material and theouter layer of flexible material. The pack heat shield 167 may alsoprotect the contents of the pack from high temperatures. A temperaturesensor 166 is shown in the example embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8. Asdiscussed above, the temperature sensor 166 may provide feedbackregarding the relative location of the hottest area of a wildfire, andallow a firefighter to position the shelter so that the heat shields arebetween the firefighter inside the shelter, and the hottest part of thefire. In this way the opportunity for survival in a dangerous situationwill be increased.

In an example embodiment the collapsible shelter may be used as anemergency shelter or as a tent during inclement weather. The collapsibleshelter may be made so that it can be used, and then stored and usedagain. For example the floor material may be rolled which may allow forrapid deployment, as well as preventing tearing or damaging material.The inner layer of flexible material may also be rolled with the use offine wire hoops between layers of the inner layer of flexible material.The fine wire hoops may provide a shape to the collapsible shelter thatallows one or more occupants to minimize contact with the inside of thecollapsible shelter, thereby minimizing the transfer of heat fromoutside of the tent to the inside of the tent.

An example method 300 of assembling a collapsible shelter is shown inFIG. 9. The first step to using the collapsible shelter is providing apack 310 that has a support structure that can be carried by a person,for example by a firefighter. The pack may include a collapsible shelterand an outer layer of flexible material called a shroud. In the examplemethod the pack is configured as a heat shield, and deploying thecollapsible shelter 312 includes connecting the collapsible shelter tothe pack.

An embodiment of the method 300, includes supporting the pack in astable position 314. This may be done by including a stand structure onthe pack, and moving the stand structure so that the stand structuresupports the pack in a stable position. A pin may be used to lock thestand structure into the stable position.

Heat shields may be stored on the pack, for example triangular shapedheat shields may be stored between the back of the pack and the supportstructure of the pack. The example method includes extending the heatshields 316 so that the heat shields reflect heat from at least aportion of the sides of the collapsible shelter. A flexible shroud heatshield may also be used as part of the step of deploying the collapsibleshelter to provide an additional layer of protection from heat.

The method may include filing an air mattress with air 318, to providecomfort to firefighters inside the shelter, as well as providing areserve of breathable air in the air mattress. As will be understood byfirefighters, and those skilled in the art of fighting wildfires, thisstep as with several of the steps of this example method may beperformed fully, in part, or not at all depending on the available time.

In an example embodiment, sensors and equipment may be enabled while inthe collapsible shelter, such as enabling a temperature sensor 320 whileinside the shelter. In an example configuration the shoulder straps ofthe pack will be accessible from inside the shelter, and may haveconduits attached to the shoulder straps for water and compressed airstored in the pack. The shoulder straps on the pack may be used to liftand reposition the pack so that the heat shields can be placed betweenthe firefighters and the hottest part of the wildfire. The firefighterinside the collapsible shelter may monitor feedback on a display fromthe temperature sensor to determine what direction to position theshelter, or if the shelter needs to be adjusted.

From inside the collapsible shelter, one or more firefighters may accessair in the air mattress 322, access compressed air stored in the pack324, and access water stored in the pack 326.

The example method may also include enabling a communication system 328,enabling a location broadcaster 330, and enabling a light source 332inside the collapsible shelter. In an example embodiment one or more ofthe systems may be enabled automatically when the shelter is deployed.In the example method 300, enabling the cooling system 334 may also bedone from inside or outside the collapsible shelter. With a coolingsystem enabled, the occupant or occupants of the collapsible shelter canaccess cooled air 336 from the cooling system. When used as an emergencyfire shelter, the objective is to reduce the stress of the firefighter,and provide an increased opportunity for survival.

While example embodiments of the invention have been disclosed throughthe drawings and detailed discussion above, many variations notdiscussed are included within the scope of the invention asmodifications which are readily apparent to those skilled in the art ofpreparing and using collapsible structures, and in addition to thoseskilled at the art of making and using emergency fire shelters. Forexample the inner layer of flexible material, when in the deployedposition, is shown and discussed as connected to the floor material inone embodiment. In another embodiment, the inner layer of flexiblematerial is not connected to the floor material. Another example is themanner in which compressed air is stored in the pack. In the exampleembodiments compressed air is stored in the support structure or theframe of the pack, but compressed air may be stored instead in atraditional container for compressed air. The shape and configuration ofelements of the example embodiments may also be changed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. For example the shape ofsupport structures are shown by way of example, and may be modified asis known or readily understood based on the above disclosure, by thoseskilled in the arts relating to the invention.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear inillustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to thoseskilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement,proportions, and methods, the elements, materials, and components usedin the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularlyadapted to specific environments and operative requirements withoutdeparting from those principles. The appended claims are intended tocover and embrace any and all such modifications, within the limits onlyof the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: A pack and a collapsibleshelter, wherein the collapsible shelter has a stored position and isstored on the pack when in the stored position, and wherein thecollapsible shelter has a deployed position, and has an exterior and aninterior when in the deployed position; wherein the collapsible shelteris connected to the pack so that when the collapsible shelter is in thedeployed position, the pack is between the interior and the exterior ofthe collapsible shelter, and wherein the pack supports at least aportion of the collapsible shelter.
 2. The device according to claim 1wherein the pack includes storage for compressed breathable air, andincludes an air valve connected to the storage for compressed breathableair to allow the breathable air to be accessed from the interior of thecollapsible shelter.
 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein thepack includes a support structure, and wherein the support structure ishollow and is used as the storage for compressed breathable air.
 4. ADevice comprising: a pack having a pack support structure, and a standstructure connected to the pack support structure; a collapsible shelterwith an interior and an exterior, wherein the collapsible shelter has astored position and is stored on the pack when in the stored position,and wherein the collapsible shelter has a deployed position, wherein thecollapsible shelter, when in the deployed position, is attached to thepack support structure so that the pack is part of the collapsibleshelter, wherein the pack support structure, when in the deployedposition as part of the collapsible shelter, is supported by the standstructure.
 5. The device according to claim 4 wherein the collapsibleshelter has an interior and an exterior, the collapsible shelter has aninner layer of flexible material, the collapsible shelter contains aflexible frame attached to the inner layer of flexible material, whereinthe inner layer of flexible material includes fire resistant material,and wherein the inner layer of flexible material is an inner heat shieldto deflect heat from a fire away from the interior of the collapsibleshelter.
 6. The device according to claim 4 wherein the pack supportstructure is hollow, and wherein the pack support structure containscompressed breathable air.
 7. The device according to claim 6, includingan air valve connected to the pack support structure to allow thebreathable air in the pack support structure to be accessed from theinterior of the collapsible shelter.
 8. The device according to claim 4,wherein the pack includes a water container incorporated into the pack,and wherein the pack includes a conduit between the water container inthe pack and the interior of the collapsible shelter to allow water inthe water container to be accessed from the interior of the collapsibleshelter.
 9. The device according to claim 4, including a floor material,having edges and an outer portion near the edges of the floor material,wherein the floor material provides a ground cover under the collapsibleshelter, and wherein the floor material is stored on the pack forcarrying; and further including a shroud material wherein the pack ismade from fire resistant material including material that reflects heat,and wherein the shroud material forms a protective cover when thecollapsible shelter is stored, and wherein the shroud material forms anouter heat shield when in the deployed position, by attaching to outerportions of the floor material, and wherein the shroud material isstored on the pack for carrying.
 10. The device according to claim 4wherein the collapsible shelter has a shroud that forms a protectivecover when the collapsible shelter is stored, wherein the shroudprovides an outer layer of flexible material including fire resistantmaterial, wherein the outer layer of flexible material is at least partof an outer heat shield to deflect heat from a fire away from theinterior of the collapsible shelter.
 11. The device according to claim10, wherein the collapsible shelter has an inner layer of flexiblematerial, and there is a space between portions of the inner layer offlexible material and the outer layer of flexible material.
 12. Thedevice according to claim 4, wherein the collapsible shelter has aninner layer of flexible material, and the inner layer of flexiblematerial includes multiple layers and a flexible frame attached to theinner layer of flexible material, wherein the flexible frame includesbendable hoops attached between the multiple layers of the inner layerof flexible material.
 13. The device according to claim 4, wherein thepack support structure is resistant to high temperature and is a heatshield to deflect heat from a fire away from the interior of thecollapsible shelter.
 14. The device according to claim 4, wherein thestand structure holds the pack support structure at an angle relative tothe ground.
 15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the standstructure holds the pack support structure approximately 45 to 90degrees relative to the ground.
 16. The device according to claim 4,wherein the pack support structure is between the interior and exteriorof the collapsible shelter when deployed as part of the collapsibleshelter.
 17. The device according to claim 4, including a cooling systemon the pack.
 18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the coolingsystem is an evaporative cooler.
 19. The device according to claim 18,wherein the pack includes a water container incorporated into the packand the water container is connected to the evaporative cooler.
 20. Thedevice according to claim 19, wherein the evaporative cooler includes anair intake on the exterior of the collapsible shelter when thecollapsible shelter is deployed, and an air output on the interior ofthe collapsible shelter, and wherein the cooling system includes amulti-phase air filter with a carbon filter, a desiccant filter, and achilling pad/filter connected to the water container, and wherein theevaporative cooler includes a fan.
 21. The device according to claim 17,wherein the cooling system includes a fan and the fan is powered atleast in part by a hand operated crank.
 22. The device according toclaim 4, further including a floor material, having edges and an outerportion near the edges of the floor material, wherein the floor materialprovides a ground cover under the collapsible shelter, and wherein thefloor material is stored on the pack for carrying; wherein the pack hasa top and a bottom, and includes an external camera approximately at thetop of the pack.
 23. The device according to claim 4, wherein thecollapsible shelter has an outer layer of flexible material, and theouter layer of flexible material is connected to the floor material. 24.The device according to claim 23, wherein the collapsible shelter has aninner layer of flexible material, and the outer layer of flexiblematerial is connected to the floor material in close proximity to theedges of the floor material, while the inner layer of flexible materialis connected to the floor material further from the edges of the floormaterial than the outer layer of flexible material.
 25. A method ofassembling a collapsible shelter comprising: providing a pack with apack support structure and a stand structure, the pack containing acollapsible shelter; deploying the collapsible shelter by moving thestand structure to provide a stable support structure for thecollapsible shelter utilizing the pack support system, wherein deployingthe collapsible shelter includes moving a layer of flexible material toform the collapsible shelter.
 26. The method according to claim 25,wherein the collapsible shelter includes a shroud, and wherein deployingthe collapsible shelter further includes connecting the collapsibleshelter to the pack to form an exterior and an interior of thecollapsible shelter, and wherein the pack is a pack heat shield, and theshroud is a shroud heat shield, to reduce heat transfer from theexterior of the collapsible shelter to the interior of the collapsibleshelter.
 27. The method according to claim 25, wherein providing a packincludes providing heat shields, and a temperature sensor on theexterior of the collapsible shelter, and a display on the interior ofthe collapsible shelter that is communicatively connected to thetemperature sensor, and storage for compressed breathable air in thepack, and a conduit for breathable air between the storage forcompressed breathable air and the interior of the collapsible shelter,and a water container in the pack, and a conduit for water between thewater container and the interior of the collapsible shelter, and an airmattress connected to the interior of the collapsible shelter, and afirst conduit for air to access air in the air mattress from theinterior of the collapsible shelter, and a wireless electroniccommunication system, and a location broadcaster system, and an electricpowered light source on the interior of the collapsible shelter, and apower supply connected to the wireless electronic communication system,and connected to the location broadcaster system, and connected to theelectric powered light source, and a cooling system for cooling air thatincludes a conduit for cooled air accessible in the interior of thecollapsible shelter.
 28. The method according to claim 27, wherein thepack heat shield has a coverage area, and deploying the collapsibleshelter includes: extending the heat shields to increase the coveragearea of the pack heat shield; enabling the temperature sensor so that aperson on the interior of the collapsible shelter receives feedback fromthe display regarding temperature on the exterior of the collapsibleshelter; filling the air mattress with air; accessing the air in the airmattress through the first conduit for air; accessing the breathable airin the storage for compressed breathable air though the conduit forbreathable air; accessing the water in the water container through theconduit for water; enabling the wireless electronic communication systemenabling the location broadcaster system; enabling the electric poweredlight source; enabling the cooling system; and accessing the cooled airthrough the conduit for cooled air.
 29. The method according to claim 25wherein deploying the collapsible shelter includes covering at least aportion of the collapsible shelter with a flexible shroud heat shield.